Athens: Villa Amalias re-squatted and re-evicted; mass detentions

Heavy anti-riot police forces that encircled the building threw repeatedly tear gas inside. At approximately 9.20am, anti-riot squadrons (MAT, YMET) along with the EKAM special suppressive antiterrorist unit were deployed in the area, smashed the building’s windows and raided it anew, detaining 101 people who were inside.

A banner reading ‘Squat Forever – Villa Amalias’ was placed on the roof

Meanwhile, nearly 200 comrades gathered at Victoria Square, near Villa Amalias, in solidarity with the squatters.

At the same time, around 40 solidarians occupied the Metaxourgeio offices of the DIMAR party (‘Democratic Left’, which participates in the tripartite government), also with the aim of calling for the January 12th demo in downtown Athens in solidarity with squats and self-organized spaces that have come under attack across Greece. However, the police raided the party’s offices as well, detaining the occupiers.

While detained by cops, comrades from both Villa Amalias re-occupation attempt and DIMAR offices’ symbolic occupation were reportedly taken with raised fists and loud chants.

An assembly in the Athens Polytechnic School was called for 15.00pm. Also, a solidarity gathering outside the police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue was announced for 18.00pm.

Following the mass detentions of the morning, nearly 150 solidarians held a spontaneous protest rally outside the Ministry of Economy and Finance at Syntagma, where the police attacked the gathering and chased people away.

According to initial reports, all of the kidnapped from Villa Amalias are threatened with charges, while the detainees from DIMAR offices’ occupation will be released from the police headquarters.